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Parents encouraged to put road safety on ‘Back to School’ checklist
As schoolchildren enter the final few weeks of their summer holidays, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is asking parents, guardians and teachers to make road safety a priority in their back to school preparations. To help keep children safe on the roads, the RSA and ESB Electric Ireland will once again be providing every child starting school this year with a high viz vest.
Advising parents Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority said, “Children are the most vulnerable of our road users so it’s really important that we teach them to be ‘streetwise’ about road safety. As part of this year’s ‘Back to School’ campaign, the RSA and ESB Electric Ireland will be providing every child starting school with a high viz vest to ensure they get to and from school safely. We’re also asking parents and guardians to consider bicycle helmets and other life saving road safety gear on their ‘back to school’ shopping lists to ensure their children are safe on the roads when travelling to and from school.”
Mr Brett also asked parents to lead by example: “Demonstrate good road safety behaviour at all times as your child will learn from your example. If your child walks or cycles to school, take them on the route in advance and make sure they know where they are going and how to use the roads and footpaths safely. If they travel by car or bus, make sure they know how important it is to put their seatbelt on at all times. Show them how you put on your seatbelt any time you get into the car, no matter how short the journey and always demonstrate good, safe and responsible road behaviour.”
Mr Brett also had a message for teachers: “We would also ask teachers to consider including a road safety lesson from the RSA’s road safety resources in their classes. There’s the ‘Safe Cross Code’, ‘Street Smart’, ‘Be Safe’, ‘Let’s Go’, ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi Glo Silver’ for primary level all of which teach our younger road-users how to use the roads safely. At secondary level we have a Junior Cycle resource entitled ‘Streetwise’ as well as ‘Your Road to Safety’ for Transition Year. Attitudes to road safety are formed at a young age so we would encourage teachers to include road safety in their lesson plans.”
The Road Safety Authority is providing the following ‘back to school’ advice for parents and children:
Travelling by Car
- All children should be restrained when travelling in a car;
- Select a restraint that is based on your child’s weight and height and is suitable for the type of car;
- Remember its safer if children travel in the rear of a car;
- Never leave children alone in a car.
Walking to School
Small children should not cross roads alone. They cannot decide how far away a car is or how fast it is going;
- Walk the route to school with them in advance;
- Children walking on country roads should wear reflective armbands and bright clothing;
- If there is no footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic keeping as close as possible to the side of the road;
- Show your child how to cross the road by example. Choose safe places to cross and take time to explain why i.e. footbridges, zebra or pelican crossings, lollipop lady/man or junior school warden patrol.
Travelling by Bus
- Teach children to take special care getting on or off a bus or mini-bus;
- While waiting for a bus, children should stand well in off the road;
- Before crossing the road they should wait until the bus has moved off and they can see clearly in both directions;
- If seatbelts are fitted, they must be worn.
Cycle Safety
- Make sure they are highly visible by wearing a reflective belt and bright clothes and wear a bicycle safety helmet on all journeys;
- Check that the bicycle’s brakes, lights, reflector and bell are in good working order.